One Man and His Canoe: The John Darwin Story has won the RTS North East and Border award for Best Factual Programme.
The film, which followed Cleveland Police’s investigation into back-from-the-dead canoeist John Darwin was broadcast on ITV1 just days after Darwin and his wife Anne were found guilty in July 2008.
True North was the only production company with exclusive access to the police investigation that pieced together the amazing story of Darwin's double life and his wife Anne’s part in the deception.
One Man And His Canoe reveals the extent of the Darwins’ fraud and the intricate web of deceit the couple created to get their hands on £250,000 of life insurance money. It shows how they deceived the police, their friends, and even their two sons who thought their father had been washed out to sea. And it reveals the moment that John Darwin finally faced up to the truth.
At the RTS Awards ceremony at Gateshead’s The Sage on Saturday 21st February, one of the film’s producer/directors Kristin Hadland collected the prestigious award with Executive Producer Andrew Sheldon, Editor Nick Thorp and Associate Producer Darrell Brown.
Andrew Sheldon said "This is the latest of a series of films that True North has made in the North East – it’s a real honour to be win the respect of our peers in a part of the country with such a tradition for great television programmes"